Celestia's knuckle-headed protege

Author's note: So another chapter is out I hope you all enjoy it as its more Naruto-centric then the last one and I can safely say that

CelticReaper:I understand and this one feels short too actually.

eniox27: I want to actually show off others to be strong and such, Naruto is obviously the main focus though.

Jebest417: A few things still left to do, but its coming out nicely.

Observer01: Thanks.

animenaruto46:I'm hoping to set the action at this point in time, because I know the next chapter is going to be at least somewhat lengthy.

Bane: ITs fine and if you'd like to be my beta reader by all means let me know because I'm in desperate need of one at the moment.

dracohalo117: She's a bit comic relief but as I've tried to say she has a more serious side, she just doesn't like showing it.

Element-Overlord: Read this chapter to find the answer for one of those questions the rest will come later.

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic nor Naruto, they are owned by their respective owners, and honestly if did own them I can't imagine either series becoming as popular as they were, it'd probably flop in all actuality.

Chapter Thirteen: The trap has been set!

Five days later Roam

Daring waited alongside her two companions as they adjusted to the new surroundings, they had arrived late that night, and the two despite how energetic they seemed weren't night ponies as she once imagined. So it was decided instead of traversing the streets they'd rest in the nearest hotel and they head towards the intended destination in the morning. Naruto thoroughly surprised her as he rented the nicest room in the building for the three of them to share, before claiming the couch for his own place to rest, falling asleep almost instantly after he made one clone, this almost surprised her as much as the fact tat Naruto looked absolutely unharmed except the small scorch marks still lingering on his coat. Spitfire flopped on the bed before groaning as she shuffled on it slightly before retreating to higher ground, sleeping contently amidst the hanging emerald gem chandelier, which honestly surprised the explorer as she approached the topic on mating quite frequently eliciting a great blush from Naruto. Which meant the four-star bed was reserved especially for her, which made Daring believe that these perhaps were the oddest set of ponies she'd ever met.

They'd slept in rather late, it was close to lunch as she started to stir the first one up surprisingly. Her lone wing shook to get rid of any cramps that may have tried to form up on her, it was likely that the days ahead were going to be hectic and her informant was going to be rather vocal if she were to hazard a small guess about her newest adventure. Her head craned as the small shift of the chandelier let Daring know that Spitfire was waking up, as she rolled out of the chandelier falling to the ground, the adventured winced as she closed her eyes, expecting the dull thud to echo in the room. A second later her eyes peaked open as she blinked at the Wonderbolt smacking her lips in the very spot standing upright, her wings folding back into place. Daring didn't want to imagine the amount of training that the Wonderbolt had to go through to right herself half asleep while falling to the ground. The golden coated pegasus swiftly headed to the shower, leaving the door open, as the sound of the falling water and her atrocious singing filled the suite.

It wasn't too long before Naruto got up, the biggest indication was that the clone would pop wistfully into nothing, she'd seen it happen often on the train to the city. She watched him smack his lips, heading to the bathroom disregarding it being in use. Her body slowly shuffled curious as to the reaction of the duo to see how they'd react, seeing each other in such a provocative state. She knew the Wonderbolt approached the topic of mating with gusto, making innuendoes when ever she seemed bored or thought it was appropriate for conversation at hand, which was never. Surprisingly enough she didn't hear the rampant apologies from the blonde or possibly the invitation to join her only the atrocious singing of the Wonderbolt she had diminishing respect for. It was a few minutes later before Naruto came out, his eyes relaxed as he sent a smile her way, she couldn't tell if it was genuine or not.

Naruto was still an enigma to her, like a big mystery that was waiting to be unraveled, she'd muse that a small fondness was directed towards him because of the fact that she didn't know what to see him as. A level of mistrust was obvious between the two as he continuously made clones when he fell asleep and Spitfire ventured away from the train for the occasional workout, regarding her wings, but when he was awake his nature was full comfort and warmth that seemed to radiate off of him. It wasn't subtle, but she imagined the unicorn was anything but subtle at this point, even this lavish roomed screamed look at me, his ridiculous healing factor and the fact that he so casually got along with one of the biggest names in Equestria was something to look at in awe as well.

Daring huffed as the pegasus came barreling out of the shower, her mind obviously elsewhere as she slipped past them humming a tune that was probably off key, if she recognized it. "I see that everyone's awake, and feeling refreshed I hope?"

The sarcasm wasn't lost on anypony, especially Spitfire as the tune slowly slipped from her mind, heading towards the door. "Yep, I mean it might not have been a fancy bed or anything, but that chandelier had the sense that everything was right with the world." The Wonderbolt said with a smile as she took one last look at the both of them, before leaving the room all together.

Naruto stood in silence, trying to find the right words to say as he holstered the saddlebags, the strap tightening as he readied himself for the day ahead. "We'll be fine, just lead the way, and we'll stop anything that tries to threaten us." It was the easiest thing that came to Naruto's mind at the exact moment, he didn't know exactly how else to put it, but he was going to help her that's all there was to it, and not a damn thing was going to stop him.

Daring looked away as heat rose to her face in embarrassment and anger, neither overriding the other. "Thanks, but that's not what I was going to ask, is the amulet secure?" She said her voice betraying her, as the confident tone she usually portrayed was now muffled by one of embarrassment, which heightened both feeling once again.

"Yeah its fine, right here with everything else I brought with me." He ignored the questioning stare, as he fixed his saddlebags the jangle still evident. "We should get going I know Spitfire isn't the most patient of ponies, I'd kind of feel sorry for the receptionist if we left her with him for too long." Daring nodded as the unicorn passed by her, rushing through the door leaving her alone, to stew on what he said not just seconds ago.

"Stop everything that threatens us...I wish it were that simple..." Daring said wistfully as she headed towards the door resolving herself for the inevitable betrayal she'd do once the amulet was complete. Her magenta eyes focused on the hallway as Naruto stood propped against the hall his head buried in the satchel as he looked into the bag his muzzle buried deep into the bag, it was already settling in something she hoped honestly to prevent from happening. "What are you doing?" She watched as he jumped his bright blue eyes full of shock as he opened the said muzzle to think of something to say.

"I was just...making sure the amulet was fine...yeah because I saw some shifty goat pass bye and stuff." Naruto said as his eyes shifted all over the place, hopefully Daring didn't call him out because this was much harder to explain than it should be.

"Sure come on your friend's waiting for you." Her words were hollow as he quickly nodded the both heading down the stairs in silence the sight of a bored Wonderbolt making small talk with two pegasi at the front desk.

"So you two are identical twins huh, that's cool so what's your names?" Spitfire said as she placed her head on the reception desk.

"I'm Yin and she's Yang, we are identical twins and we'd appreciate it if you actually removed your head from the counter, we like to run a clean business and whether your-" The Yin's words were stopped with a cold glare as her sister motioned towards the stairs.

"Thank Celestia you arrived, Naruto I was getting bored out of my mind these two here just wouldn't say anything at all." Spitfire said as she motioned towards the receptionists glaring at her.

"Its Uzumaki's fault, he kept his nose buried in that saddlebag so tit took him forever to find the stairs. " Daring said with a roll of there eyes as Naruto looked at her with a mixture of shock and caution.

"Lets just go already, I got the deposit back, and I'm hoping we get to see something that'll make this trip worth it besides the silent twins here." Spitfire said as she ushered her companions along, leaving the hotel for better things.

Ahuizotl stared lazily at the drake before him, it was rather irritating watching his business partner chew on what he suspected was turquoise, regardless with each second that passed the noise seemingly got louder and louder which irritated him to no end. He would receive the periodic reprieve as the drake would swallow his food, before the rattle and crunching would begin again, this had been happening for two continuous days and if it wasn't fro the ridiculous pay day he was offered, he was sure that snapping this drake's neck would already occurred, though he was going to do the task after he'd been paid. No annoyance was going to live that long, and especially if the item was worth this much to his boss complete, it would probably earn him another payday if he pushed it the right way. His musings of greed and betrayal slipped from his mind as knocking came from his door.

Ahuizotl made a small gesture for it to be open as a tiger fumbled with the door knob, after a few seconds the door opened to reveal a set of nearly identical pegasus pony twins. Their manes draped over each of their left ears, as cold violet eyes stared on at the occupants. The only notable difference was their cutie marks, half a yin-yang symbol stood out on their cobalt blue coat. "I see you've both returned with good news I presume." Ahuizotl smirked as he dropped his gaze towards the twins hooves, specks of block covered their front hooves as they entered the room, closing the door behind them.

"We found her and she didn't bother hiding as you presumed she would sir..." The left one said with a dull tone, who Ahuizotl deemed to call Yin.

"She wasn't alone either, their were two with her..." The remaining sister Yang immediately spoke up continuing the conversation.

"...one was a Wonderbolt, we confirmed that she was Spitfire." Yin looked on as she stared at her master, his anger was clearly evident at this point.

"...The other we know his name, that's all, he's rather an unknown to us." Yang spoke up as she looked on at the shaking fist ready to smash into her at any moment.

"Speak it." The icy tone sent shivers down the twins spines, but it commanded them all the same to comply.

"NARUTO UZUMAKI!" The twins shouted the name as the flinched expecting another beating from their master, what they received was more chilling to the bone than any beating or punishment they received so far, the raucous laughter of their master's guest rang through the room. His scaly claws clapped with vigor as his laughter deepened, a canine or two protruding over his bottom lip as his eyes gleamed with what the two ponies suspected was madness.

"Do you wish to share the source of your amusement or do you wish to laugh like a lunatic?" Ahuizotl barked out as the Fyra's eyes honed in on him.

"I just find it rather appropriate that one of those ponies my master so vehemently wants disposed of, is right here, its as if the fate has decided to give me an extra prize for my diligence." The words were strangled as the drake would break out into the occasional giggle during his tangent, eliciting look of fear from some of the room's occupants. "Kill him and you can guarantee yourself a large substantial bonus, perhaps as big as your initial reward if you bring me his severed head."

The words formed a pit of unease in the monkey/cat hybrid's stomach. Killing had become second nature to him at this point, he just massacred a small village not even a week ago, but this was different such a high reward for one head was ridiculous even by his standards. "Why pay so much for one measly pony's head, one insignificant ant shouldn't pose a threat to your master." He worded it carefully as he had to know why he was such a high value target, but without overtly getting himself tangled up more with this crazy drake.

"Oh there are plenty of reasons alone for him to be considered a threat in these past three years. So I hope you will eliminate him along with anything else you deem fit for the task at hand."

"Another nuisance to add to the list, alongside a Wonderbolt and Daring Do, tell everyone involved that when they spring the trap make sure you push them in the water, I can handle the rest." Ahuizotl said as the twins nodded in agreement, leaving once again to fulfill their task. It would only be a matter of moments before they'd fall in battle once they fell into the river it'd be all over.

The stagnant smell of dust and aged paper filled the air in a small shop, a velvet coated pegasus brushed her wings over the shelves wiping dust off the collection of tomes that hadn't been touched in ages. Oh she detested the simple request from her husband as he buried himself in his research, the unicorn never knew when to stop when it came to ponies pulling favors from him, especially if it involved that mare, but she had the smallest of soft spot for her as well. This favor however he was mutually interested in, so it was doubly effective in motivating him, too bad it wasn't effective on other important matters...his loving family mostly.

Her eyes draped over another shelf, as the doorbell rang, she needn't bother looking down as a five year old pegasus filly came dashing through the store. Her voice a myriad of cheers, as she shifted up towards her clumsily. The small feat was impressive enough but the small gleam her daughter had in her eye, meant that her little filly had a secret to share. "Mommy-" Her words were barely audible over the door being opened, an all to familiar sight filled her caramel eyes as Daring Do walked through the door way, no wonder why her filly was so excited. A smile crept on her face as the filly dive-bombed the famed explorer sending her to the ground, as the older pony showered her with what she supposed was more affection, considering how happy she was just moments ago. Her eyes blinked a second time as two other ponies walked in, she instantly recognized the both of them, Naruto Uzumaki, who she was very particularly fond of for certain reasons and Spitfire the current captain of the Wonderbolts stood in wonder as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.

The mother pursed her lips at the quick thought of Daring seeking assistance, it was quickly dismissed as fast as the thought formed. She knew Daring has been initially a loner taking on her pursuits without no aid, it took coaxing from her and her husband to establish that Daring couldn't do everything on her own. She honestly believed that the mare knew it, but didn't have the mind to care believing the good she did out-weighted any other outcome.

"Welcome to our humble shop." She said sweetly as the trio and her daughter turned her attention towards the pegasus. "I believe introductions are in order, you may call me, Quick Quill, or Q if you feel like it." The words were soft as the three slowly relaxed as a gesture from the pegasus got the filly to close the door. "MY husband will be out shortly, I'm sure he knows you three are already here."

Daring smiled as the pegasus floated down towards her, it was warming to know that she was still regarded with such trust, despite prior warnings on her adventures. Even the filly's gestures made Daring feel the slightest bit lighter, knowing that she was somewhere safe(r) lifted a burden off her, she just wished this sense of content could fix her wings, because she imagined things would be different right now. "Its good to see you Q, and I've seen little Hazel has grown since the last time I saw her." She cooed the words as her lone wing rubbed the filly's head affectionately. "These are my... co-workers...Naruto Uzumaki and Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts." The words felt heavy as she said them like it didn't have, the weight she wanted them to have as she tried to lie to probably the nicest mare that she had ever grew accustomed too and her five year old daughter.

"Co-workers, lies your about as social as your parents and grumpier than both of them combines, so if your going to lie to Hazel, do it about something less irrelevant." The words struck through the bookstore as Hazel left her side making her way towards the owner of the voice. The smell of mint and oranges filled the air as a unicorn stepped forward, his navy blue coat a mess as the black and white mane hung over his striking scarlet red eyes. Here he was the stallion of the hour and one of the only ponies that cared about as much for the happening in the world, Crescent Lulamoon. "Dear, I think its going to take a while, do you think you could take out Hazel for a bit, I'm sure you both could do with some fresh air." The way he said Daring knew it wasn't a suggestion, and she was sure that Q picked up on it as she ushered the filly out leaving the four alone.

Daring blinked in surprise as she watched cards come to life, pouring from the bookshelves as they hovered dangerously in the air with a sunny yellow hue, her companions immediately on edge as they prepared themselves for a fight. "What are you doing, even if it was a lie they still are on our side, Crescent?" The words were full of confusion as the mass of cards swirled above them.

"I know that, but I don't know where to start with my findings on the amulet, I'm sure you know a great deal about the subject Daring considering the circumstances, but I've only had no more than say a week dealing with this particular subject." Crescent said with a smile as he gestured towards the cards that slowly began to merge into a tangible shape, more specifically a book.

Naruto stared at the card manipulating unicorn, he'd met this unicorn before, he just wasn't where. "We've met before haven't we?" The question was simple enough and his suspicions were confirmed as the older unicorn gave a appreciative nod towards him.

"Yes, I believe it was in Prance, I was dealing with a few gargoyles or something of that sort. I exhausted myself you came to my rescue and promptly defeated them with only but one attack, it was an extraordinary one too, if it didn't deal such grievous wounds to you afterwards." The words were surprisingly calm as the unicorn set the book of cards on the ground. "The alicorn amulet is essentially a tool that's existed longer than Equestria was founded. If I was a betting stallion and I am, its likely that this was one of the reasons that a huge rift was created between the three pony tribes." Crescent smiled as the pegasus dipped her head closer digging through the information being shared, sifting through what she knew and what she didn't.

"So what's so evil about it?" Spitfire said as she peered over the enthralled pegasus a picture clearly now on the page. It was of a crazed looking earth pony being burnt at the stake, a familiar looking necklace wrapped around its neck, as menacing red eyes stared at the crowd.

"As you can see by the picture, it corrupts those that dare to wear it. All tribes of pony-kind are affected by the whispers of power that come from it, even holding a piece of it causes this decent, so I caution you al to be wary of it, its ruined many of lives already." He could see Daring Do bite her cheek before turning away settling her gaze back on Naruto. There's three pieces that go to each tribe, the large gem that is the centerpiece for the amulet amplifies earth pony magic. The smallest gem for Unicorns which all of you guesses amplifies their magical abilities, and the last piece which binds it all together is meant for Pegasi."

"So say we give it to a dragon what then?" Naruto asked wondering if the amulet could help with his summoning.

"Absolutely nothing, its meant to amplify ponies inner magic only so it'd be just another trinket for its collection. Which goes for the individual tribes too, if a pegasus held the piece that amplifies their natural magic it'd be nothing more than a decorative piece, but I'm sure at some point being around it will compel you to complete it."The card using unicorn said a he locked eyes with Daring.

"Where's the next piece, we need to get it..." Daring said as she resolved herself for the events ahead.

"Oh the next piece should be in the Tiber River, on the bottom of it glowing. " Crescent said staring wistfully at the book as Daring and Spitfire nodded in understanding, one slightly more excited about the prospect than the other. "I'd advise heading to the Pones Fabricius, its the oldest bridge around Roam." His eyes traipsed over Daring as she nodded in understanding. "I'm sure your aware of this but your being watched, and you my dear injured pegasus know who it is, so keep your destruction to a minimum." The unicorn said as he ushered the ponies out of his house, trying to rid himself of the sense of dread as he took one glance at Naruto's right saddlebag, the feeling of power that emanated off it was enticing, so it made since that what Naruto had was obviously the pegasus portion or they'd all be a mess at the moment or half of everypony present at least. So it was a phenomenal effort that Naruto was willingly repelling the whispers of power that it promised him, that unicorn was something before, but now he didn't know how to measure him as an average unicorn.

"Equestria certainly has gotten more interesting since I've met you Naruto..."

Author's note: I have no real excuse for why It took so long for this story to come out other than I was gone for a good week. On the side note I think two or three more chapters for this arc before I swap to the next one which I have a decent idea about, I'm just wondering who should accompany Naruto on the majestic quest to get more training in.